Foundation Prep!

After a record-setting stretch of July rainfall, we have finally had a break! Soil compaction and site prep has begun! Exciting... nerve wracking...a relief...where do you even begin to describe this moment.

We did not even expect this to start this week. We were waiting on info about demo permit from the previous owner/seller.(Yes, demo...which was done before we even got the lot!) Bottom line of all that is more money. We are becoming well aware of the cha-ching sound in this endeavor.

Only two days earlier we were excited about the fact the AT&T support cable had been moved to a new pole. We hadn't seen progress in weeks, so even that was exciting.

Besides the site prep, they also are setting up the culvert. Definitely a source of frustration. Due to all of the pipes running through the front of the lot it runs at an undesirable angle (We're particular about the details LOL) We've been assured the angle will be able to be covered when the driveway is poured. Next step - form survey and setting up the foundation frame.











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Foundation & Structural Engineer

Today we met with the structural engineers to discuss the foundation yet again. We've moved from a pier foundation to a post-tentsion slab to conventional slab due to the results of the soil report. The soil is considered "good" in their eyes (for Houston) with a plasticity of 15 but the water table is high. Generally this means that there should be relatively little movement but digging piers would be difficult or possible problematic. The post-tension option was dismissed due to the lack of width in the slab to accomodate the tension required on the cables. The conventional slab is basically like placing a waffle on the ground. After digging out 6 inches, placing 24 inches of packed fill, and then trenching, the slab will be poured.

The exciting part is that this process can be started very soon. Everything else is wrapping up regarding plans. There will be a little bit of steel in the garage due to accounting for wind load. It was exciting to see the plans and the life of their own they have seem to have taken on. So many more notes and diagrams are on them since they left us. Next post - selections and allowances.

The Lot

A basic pic of the lot after the previous house was removed. It's actually alot more skinny than this picture portrays. We have planned the house around keeping the beautiful Sycamore tree in the backyard.


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Homeowners Manual & Foundation

Things are moving forward. We met with the builder and basically received the Bible if the building process. In actuality it's just a binder, but it details our timelines, etc. We've already begun setting up appointments for all the selections.

We also went over the soil report and geo-technical data. We'll be switching over to a Post Tension foundation as per the recommendation of the engineer. The soil is less-suited to the pier/slab construction we had planned. Talking at length with with the soil engineer had to happen first though. (of course). Now if the weather cooperates and begins to dry out, we can get this started. We are still also waiting for finalization by the engineer and permits. Our approval of the foundation helps move all forward.




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